Foster welcomes Magellan Aerospace acquisition

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has today welcomed the acquisition of John Huddleston Engineering Ltd (JHE) by Magellan Aerospace Corporation, a global aerospace company based in Canada.

JHE, based in Greyabbey, Co. Down, is one of the leading UK precision engineering companies supplying the global aerospace and defence sectors.

JHE currently employs 81 staff at its Greyabbey operations. An additional 164 staff are employed across its sister companies in Blackpool and Poland.

Commenting on the announcement, Arlene Foster said: “The acquisition of John Huddleston Engineering Ltd by Magellan Aerospace demonstrates the confidence placed in our local precision manufacturing capabilities by a leading international aerospace company.

“The Huddleston family has worked tremendously hard over the years to make JHE one the leading UK’s precision engineering companies. This very positive news is an endorsement of that hard work and of the expertise available in Northern Ireland’s aerospace sector. It also complements the numerous achievements announced by local firms at this year’s Farnborough Air Show.

“My department and Invest Northern Ireland look forward to establishing a strong working relationship with Magellan and to exploring potential areas of development which will help build on Northern Ireland’s standing as a centre of aerospace excellence.”